2012 SPRING TURKEY ATLAS NOW AVAILABLE

March 29, 2012Publication shows all land open to spring turkey hunting; online version also availablePRATT — The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has announced that the 2012 Kansas Spring Turkey Atlas is now available at KDWPT offices and license vendors around the state. An online version is currently available on the agency's website, ksoutdoors.com. To view or download the atlas from the KDWPT website, click “Hunting/Where To Hunt In Kansas/2012 Spring Turkey Atlas.” View or print all or portions of the atlas.

This is an indispensible tool for anyone looking for a new place hunt, or for those who don’t yet have a place to go. The atlas pinpoints access to all land in Kansas open to public spring turkey hunting, including Walk-In Hunting Access land, which is private land leased by KDWPT. This spring, more than 190,000 acres of Walk-In land are available, in addition to state and federal wildlife areas.

The 2012 spring youth/disabled and archery turkey seasons run April 1-10. The regular spring season runs April 11-May 31. Turkey permits allow hunters to use a shotgun, crossbow, or bow throughout the regular season.

Turkey permits valid in units 1, 2, and 3 may be purchased online from the KDWPT website or over the counter at any license vendor. (Unit 4 — southwest Kansas — is a draw-only area, except that youth permits are valid in all units, including Unit 4.) A turkey regulations summary may be downloaded from the KDWPT website and printed or obtained at KDWPT offices. The brochure can be used only for general regulations regarding the 2012 Kansas spring turkey hunting season.

Huntable populations of wild turkeys exist in nearly every Kansas county. The Rio Grande subspecies dominates the western two-thirds of the state, and the eastern subspecies is common in the eastern regions. Hybrid Rio Grande/eastern birds may be found where the two ranges converge.